Coin sorter



Sept. 29, 1959 A. e. BLANCHETTE ET AL I COIN SORTER Filed March 8, 19563 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS um '94. RM

COIN SORTER Albert G. Blanchette and Victor G. Ristvedt, Murfresboro,Tenn., assignors to Brandt Automatic Cashier Company, Watertown, Wis., acorporation of Wisconsin Application March 8, 1956, Serial No. 570,306

9 Claims. (Cl. 133-3) The invention relates to coin sorting machines.

The main object of the invention is to provide a coin sorting machine inwhich coins on a movable carrier are sorted while proceedingin singlefile past a series of selectively positioned means, one for eachdenomination of coin, said means cooperating with the energy imparted tothe coins by the carrier to sortably receive the coins from saidcarrier. Preferably the carrier is a rotating disc along which the coinsare moved by centrifugal force into a single line sorting position. Theinvention permits the sorting of coins at a very high rate of speed andconsiderably faster than heretofore.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coin sorting machinein which the coins, in single file, are carried around on the peripheralor outer portion of the surface of a rotating disc and aredenominationally selectively removed from the disc by a series ofpickups or plows which acting in conjunction with the kinetic energyimparted to the coins by the rotating disc force the coins upward,outward and off the disc into separate chutes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coin sorting machinehaving a hopper to receive the coins to be sorted in which the rotatingdisc, above referred to, forms the bottom of the hopper. Under theaction of centrifugal forces imparted to the coins by the disc, they arecarried outwardly and under a plate spaced from the disc a distancegreat enough to allow the thickest coin to pass beneath the plate butless than the thickness of two of the thinnest coins and are then guidedoutwardly I by guide means associatedwith the plate in a single file tothe peripheral portion of the disc.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coin sorting machinehaving a rotating disc, forming the bottom of a hopper to receive thecoins to be sorted, acting in conjunction with a gauge plate to carrythe coins outwardly of the hopper by centrifugal force, the hopperbottom portion of said disc having a facing of yieldable material toprevent jamming of the coins between the plate and the disc shouldsuperimposed coins try to pass between the disc and said plate.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coin sorting machinein which only one moving part, a rotating disc, carries the coins from areceiving hopper to a sorting station under the action of centrifugalforce imparted to the coins and then by the further action of energyimparted to the coins by the disc acts in conjunction withdenominationally selective means to sort the coins.

The application is a continuation in part of our application filed June13, 1955, Serial No. 514,841 for Device for the Purpose of SortingCoins, now abandoned. I

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter setforth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a coin sorter embQdying theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the sorter; 1

Fig. 3 is a top view with the hopper and rt's support removed, partsbeing broken away; I

Fig. 4 is a detailed vertical sectional view taken an the broken line4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detailed vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 ofFig. 3; I

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through a section of the hoppershowing the normal feed of the coins there= from; I i p 7 is a 308 offplace view of a coin pickup; I

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the action of two coins onthe bottom plate of the hopper; and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the release of the two coinseffected by the action shown in Fig. 8.

Referring to Fig. 4, the sorter includes a housing 10 having an electricmotor M mounted on its side wall, the motor being of the geared downtype and carrying a pulley 11.

The rotary shaft 12 is mounted in a bearing 13 in the top wall of thehousing and in an outboard bearing 14 carried by a spider 15 secured tosaid wall. Shaft 12 has a pulley 16 mounted thereon and connected by abelt 17 with the pulley 11.

.A plate member 18 having a central opening 19 is mounted on the topwall of the housing 10 together with an associated cover plate member18a as indicated in Fig. 3, these parts forming in effect a singleplate. A

conical metal tube, forming a hopper 20, at its bottom surrounds theopening 19 and is held in operative position by a cover member 21secured by screws 22 to the housing. A spiral guide 23 is attached tothe underside of the plate member 18, a portion of which extends aroundopening 19 as shown in Fig. 3.

A disc 24 is mounted on the shaft 12 to rotate therewith within a recess25 formed in the housing. The disc has a flat surface 26 extending to arim or shoulder 27 and which surface below and adjacent the opening 19is formed of a rubber section or pad 28 inset in the disc. The guide 23projects down close to the fiat surface of the disc. The disc isprovided with a series of radially spaced annular grooves 29, one foreach denomination of coin to be, sorted. These grooves are radiallyspaced from the rim 27 so that the groove nearest the rim is overlappedby a dime D resting on the surface 26, the next groove is overlapped bya penny P on said surface, the next groove is overlapped by a nickel Non said surface, the next groove is overlapped by a quarter Q on saidsurface and the last groove is overlapped by a half dollar H. The discis rotated in a clockwise direction by the motor M.

A section 30 of the plate member 18 is cut out as far pickup also has aninclined coin deflector portion 33 so formed and positioned relative tothe disc 24 and parts of the housing that it will act to deliver ordirect the coin it picks up into a delivery chute 34, see Figs. 1 and 5.The upper ends of the chute 34 are formed by portions of the housing orparts secured thereto and by plates '35 that are substantiallytangentially disposed relative to grooves 29, see Figs. 3 and 5. Thereis one pickup for I each denomination of coin to be sorted working inits associated groove 29 and a chute 34 for each denomina tion of sortedcoin. While not shown, usually the delivery chutes lead to asuitablereceptacle or to a bag to receive the sorted coins.

With the above construction, .coins are fed into the hopper 20 by theoperator or in any other suita b1e mam,

ner and are deposited on the rubber section 28 of the rotating disc 24and are forced outwardly along the surface of this disc by centrifugalforce. The layer of coins on the disc 24 is sheared away from the massof coins by the outward movement of the bottom layer of the coins intothe slot or space 36 formed between the disc and the plate 18 asindicated in Fig. 6. Should, however, a pair of superimposed coins, asshown in Fig. 8, tend to jam in the slot 36 the yieldability ofthesection 28 in most instances prevents actual jamming and permits thecoins to rearrange themselves, as shown in Fig. 9, so that the thinnertop coins can proceed into the space 36. The coins thus taken from thebottom of the'hopper are carried out by centrifugal force through thespace 36 toward the outer portion of the disc until they strike thespiral guide 23 and are then carried along this guide until -in singlefile they leave the guide and move out, as shown in Fig. 3, until theystrike the rim 27. Abutting the rim the coins are carried around insingle file until they reach the region of the pickups or plows 31. Whenthey reach the pickups, which are set at a tangent to the annular lineof rotation of the disc, they are selectively removed by these pickupsdepending upon their diametrical dimensions which are alsodeterminative'of their denominational value. A coin of a particulardenominational value is separated from the remainderof the file of coinsby the fact that the pickup working in its associated groove plowsitself under the outer edge of the coin on the rim 27 as shown in Fig.5, tilts the coin upwardly and then, under the action of kinetic energyimparted to the coin by the moving disc the coin moves itself in a moreor less tangential path laterally outwardly of the disc and along theinclined guide surface of the portion 33, as indicated in Fig. 7, sothat the coin is deflected into its proper delivery chute 34. Thepickups are so arranged that the pickup for the largest diameter cointhe half-dollar, will be given the first'chance to separate or sort sucha coin andthe other pickups are sequentially arranged from the larger tothe smaller coins so that the last pickup separates the smallest coins'or dimes. The pickups, from the larger to the smallenare so elevatedprogressively as to permit the smaller diameter coins to pass under themand continue to the next smaller diameter pickup and then, as the casemay be, proceed to other pickups until that pickup is reached which isgauged for its diameter whereupon the coin is lifted off the disc and isthen tipped or raised off the shoulder or rim 27 and deflected outwardlyinto its delivery chute 34, as above described.

It is to be noted that the sortingfeature, while shown in connectionwith the hopper feed above described, is'of value per se.

By the term coins as used in the claims we mean to include the customaryvariations thereof such as tokens.

While the rim portions 27 are shown as integral with the disc,variations having an effect similar to the rim are within thecontemplated scope'of the invention which is not to be limited to thedetails of construction herein shown and described unless saidlimitations are included in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a denominational value coin sorting machine the combination of ahopper, a rotary coin carrying disc having a top surface on which coinsare free-to move and forming the-bottom of the hopper and extendingbeyond'the same, plate means spaced from the disc'adjacent the bottom ofthe hopper to permita single'layer of coins of any denomination to becarried centrifugally outwardly on said surface from the hopper to theperipheral portion of the disc, guide 'means for directing the coinsfrom the hopper to the peripheral portion of said disc in a single file,peripheral limit means for limiting the outward travel of coins on'thedisc in singlefile and coin-lifting means, one for 'each denomination ofcoma-selectively positioned spaced-relative'to said single 4 file'ofcoins and said peripheral limit means to sortably remove the coins fromthe disc while in a single file on the disc, in accordance with theirdenominational value.

2. In a coin sorting machine, the combination of a rotary disc having atop surface on which coins are free to move outwardly by centrifugalforce imparted to them by said disc and for carrying coins to be sortedin a single file through a sorting station, a rim on saiddisc forlimiting the outward travel of coins on said disc in their single filemovement through said sorting station to a. common line of registry forthe outer edges of said coins, and a series of coin-lifting means, onefor each diametrical size of coin selectively spaced from said rim, atsaid sorting station cooperating with parts of said disc, said outwardtravel limiting means and the energy imparted to the coins by said discto sortably remove the coins therefrom.

3. In a coin sorting machine, the combination of a rotary diSc having atop surface on which coins are free to move outwardly by centrifugalforce imparted to them by said disc and on said surface in a single filethrough a sorting station, annular stop means on the peripheral portionof said disc for limiting the outward travel of the outer edges of thecoins thereon in their single file movement through said sorting stationto common line of registry, a series of pick ups at said station, onefor I each diametrical size of coin and selectively spaced relative tosaid common line of registry and cooperating with said stop means andthe energy imparted to the coins by said disc to sortably remove thecoins directly outwardly 'therefrom, parts of said disc havingcontinuous spaced annular grooves to permit the disposal of the forwardends of said pick ups beneath the coins on said disc.

'4. In a coin sorting machine, the combination of a rotary disc having atop surface on which coins are free to move outwardly by centrifugalforce imparted tothem by said disc and on which coins are carried in asingle file past a sorting station, peripheral stop means projectingabove the top surface of the disc and engageable with an edge of eachcoin for limiting the outward travel of coins on said disc in theirsingle file movement through said sorting station, and a series of fixedpick ups, one for each diametrical size of coin selectively spacedrelative to said peripheral stop means, each pick up'tangentiallydisposed and inclined outwardly relative to the circumferential path ofsaid disc at said sorting station cooperating with parts of said disc,said outward travel limiting means and the energy imparted by the discto the coins to lift and guide the sorted coins directly upwardly andoutwardly from the peripheral portion of said disc.

5. In a coin sorter for sorting coins'of a plurality of differentdiametrical sizes into groups of similar size coins, the combination ofa rotary disc having a top surface on which coins are free to move andadapted to carry the coins to be sorted outwardly along said surface bycentrifugal force, means cooperating with said disc to form a singlefileof the coins on the outer portion of said disc, past a sorting station,common peripheral limit means for said single file of coins at saidstation, and fixed coin lifting means, one for each diametrical size ofcoin, selectively spaced relative to the outer edges of said single fileof coins and said peripheral limit means and cooperating with parts ofsaid disc, said peripheral limit means and kinetic energy imparted tothe .coins by said disc to sortably project the coins directlyoutwardly'of the peripheral portion of the disc.

6. In a denominational coin sorting machine the combination of a hopper,a'rotary coin carrying disc having a top surface on which coins are freeto move and form- 'ing the bottom of the hopper and extending beyond thesame and spaced from the body thereof a distance to permit a layer ofcoins of any denomination to be carried centrifugally outwardly from thehopper on said surface toward the peripheral portion of the disc,spirally formed guide means for directing said single layer of coins tothe peripheral portion of said disc in a single file, that portion ofthe disc beneath the outlet from said hopper being yieldable to preventthe jamming of a pair of superimposed coins, peripheral limit means forsaid single file of coins, and coin-lifting means, one for eachdenomination of coin, selectively spaced relative to said single file ofcoins and said peripheral limit means to sortably remove the coins fromthe disc in accordance with their denominational value as they move insingle file thereon.

7. In a denominational coin sorting machine, the combination of amovable carrier having a top surface on which coins are carried and arefree to move in a single file path, means for keeping the outer edges ofthe coins in their single file path in a common line of registry andproviding a fulcrum point for each coin at its outer edge, and a seriesof coin lifting means, one for each denomination of coins selectivelypositioned relative to said line of registry and operable on the coinsin said path in cooperative relation with the energy imparted to thecoins by said carrier to tip said coins about said fulcrum points in adirection outwardly of said carrier to sortably remove the coins fromsaid carrier.

8. In a machine for sorting coins of different diametrical sizes intogroups of similar size coins, the combination of a rotary disc having atop surface on which coins are free to move outwardly by centrifugalforce imparted to them by the disc and in a single file through asorting station, a rim on said disc for limiting the outward travel ofthe outer edges of the coins on said disc in their single file movementthrough said sorting station to a common line of registry, a series ofpickups at said station, one for each diametrical size coin andselectively spaced relative to said rim and cooperating with said rimand the energy imparted to the coins by said disc to sortably remove thecoins directly outwardly from the surface of said disc, parts of thesurface of said disc being recessed to permit disposal of the forwardends of the pickups beneath the coins on said disc.

9. In a machine for sorting coins of different diametrical sizes intogroups of similar size coins, the combination of a rotary disc having atop surface on which coins are free to move outwardly by centrifugalforce imparted to them by the disc, means limiting the supply of coinsto the central portion of said disc, means controlling the feed of coinsfrom the central portion of the disc as a single layer of coins, guidemeans for limiting the initial movement of the coins on said disc to anarea back from the outer portion of said disc and directing coins fromthis area to the outer portion of the surface of the disc to form asingle file of coins thereon, rim means engageable with an edge of eachof said single file of coins for limiting the outward travel of thecoins on the outer portion of the disc and providing a fulcrum point forthe outer edge of each coin, and a series of coin lifting means, one foreach diametrical size of coin selectively spaced relative to said rimmeans to act on said single file of coins in conjunction with said rimmeans and the kinetic energy imparted to the coins by said disc tosortably project the coins directly outwardly and away from the disc.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS229,712 Junkin July 6, 1880 1,200,843 Johnson et a1 Oct. 10, 19161,279,351, Jorgensen et al Sept. 17, 1918 1,813,296 Kidwell July 7, 19311,965,373 FitzGerald July 3, 1934 1,979,659 Zierick Nov. 6, 19342,519,357 Daugherty Aug. 22, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 2,906,276 September 29, 1959 AlbertG. Blanchette et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the -printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the saidLetters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, lines 51 and 52, strike out "directly" and insert the samebefore "outwardly" in line 52, same column.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of April 1960.,

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL Ho LINE ROBERT c. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

